Hifz means to preserve or guard both literally and figuratively or learning by heart as there is an Arabic saying “حفظٌ عن ظهر القلب” (Hifzun ‘an zahril qalb) which means” to learn by heart.”
It is a procedure in which both teaching and learning are oral. That is the teacher recites, the student listens, memorizes, and recites back what he or she has heard. However, the use of a printed Quran that is Mushaf may be helpful in this process.
Importance
Memorization of the Holy Quran is a historical phenomenon of the Muslim women. In most of the Islamic countries, the Quranic reciter is called hfiz/hafizah; that means “a preserver” or a “memorizer”, because he or she is an important link in the transmission and the preservation of Quran.
The professional reciter must complete the text of the Holy Quran in his memory. Memorization of the Holy Quran helps one to understand the science of Qiraat. This ability makes the reciter to distinguish personal differences in reciting and also prevents him to deviate too much from the text.
Saying of the prophet on the importance of Hifz and on the condemnation of forgetfulness.
The prophet Muhammad exhorted the believers to keep a firm grip on the Quran because it is more likely to bolt from the mind than a camel from its halter. He said “He who recites the Holy Quran and then forgets it, will meet God on the Day of Resurrection in the mutilated state.”
Memorization of a particular text:
To memorize some ayat of the Glorious Quran one should go through the following process:
- Recite a single Ayat or a few ayat to someone who knows the correct pronunciation of the Holy Quran, to recognize and correct your own mistakes.
- Repeat by yourself from the Mushaf until you can revise the same from your money.
- Then start reciting this particular text from your memory without looking in the Mushaf, until you feel that it is fixed in your mind.
- Then ask the teacher or a friend to listen to you, because it is possible that you might have made some mistakes in it.
- After that, make it a part of your recitation in your prayer until you believe that it is firmly fixed in your mind. Then take another part of the Holy Quran, memorize it in the same manner and add it to the memorized portion and so on.
You must repeat your memorized text according to a well arranged repetition program, either in your own prayers or with the help of your teacher or your companion